ABERDEEN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 5 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors At 7:00 p.m. President Doug Smith called to order the regular meeting of the Board of Directors in the Community Room at Aberdeen High School. Members present included Sandra Bielski and Jeremy Hawkins, along with Superintendent Marty Kay and 15 patrons and staff. Jeff Snell and Jennifer Hagen were excused. A work study preceded the meeting for a discussion about real estate trends in the Aberdeen area and matters related to enrollment. Board approved the consent agenda, which included the minutes of the October 6, 2009, meeting; September payroll vouchers 800181 through 800223 totaling $2,291,447.22 and General Fund vouchers 800147 through 800152, 800257, and 800259 through 800483 totaling $649,275.58; Reserve Fund vouchers 800153 through 800159 and 800226 through 800228 totaling $10,670.00; ASB Fund vouchers 800224, 800229 through 800256 and 800484 totaling $22,501.10; Capital Fund voucher 800258 in the amount of $414.02, and Transportation Vehicle Fund voucher 800485 in the amount of $115,626.28 Director Jeremy Hawkins said the science fair organized by the Grays Harbor Center for Educational Opportunities that took place on October 17 was successful beyond expectations with an estimated 400 students and parents taking part. Participation by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry was well received and the vendors enjoyed meeting and talking with young students. Participants and organizers are looking forward to making it an annual event, although it will most likely be moved to springtime during the 2010-2011 school year. Superintendent Kay reviewed the Board s upcoming participation in the annual conference of the Washington State School Directors Association on November 18-21. Among those expected to speak are Governor Christine Gregoire, Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn and a Stanford University professor whose work is familiar to many on staff in the district. President Doug Smith said he expects the conference to once again offer opportunities for professional development as a board. REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER CONSENT AGENDA COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS OLD BUSINESS
Board voted unanimously to approve the annual Minimum Basic Education Requirement Compliance report for the 2009-2010 school year. The report certifies that the district is in compliance with state basic education requirements. Superintendent Kay noted that the district is just above the minimum requirement in terms of compliance with the number of hours in the school day. One of the items under discussion this year is how to create more collaboration time for staff while still meeting the basic education requirements for hours spent on instruction. The report for the Board should be ready in March or April. Board members reviewed draft language for an eventual contract with the New Market Skills Center. Superintendent Kay said discussions are moving forward on plans for the Aberdeen School District to become a branch campus of the New Market Skills Center by the start of the 2010 school year. Additional career and technical education opportunities should become more accessible to all high school students on Grays Harbor. Superintendent Kay presented the monthly Fiscal Status Report. Based on the County Treasurer s report the amount of cash and investments on hand at the end of September is $2,387,871. In the past month, the district has added 5.2 teachers and 22 more hours per day of classified (para-educator) time. Most of the additions are helping to alleviate high class sizes and increased enrollment at the elementary level. Enrollment for October was 171 FTE over budget and slightly above last year at this time. Superintendent Kay noted that the state s budget crisis has not lessened and he expects to see increased pressure on the General Fund this year. He noted that the fund balance took five years to accumulate but could be depleted in no time at all. On a motion by Jeremy Hawkins, seconded by Sandra Bielski, the Board voted unanimously to surplus a 1994 Chevrolet Astro van, VIN 1GNEL19WOR8193379, that no longer meets the needs of the Maintenance Department. It has 179,000 miles on it and it would not be cost effective to repair its transmission problems. The Board reviewed results of a state audit of the Career and Technical Education Department. There were no findings. Superintendent Kay said Director Lynn Green should be congratulated because after the BASIC EDUCATION COMPLIANCE NEW MARKET SKILLS CENTER FISCAL SERVICES REPORT SURPLUS VAN CTE AUDIT 2
auditors completed their review they saw no need to return for an exit interview. Lynn Green, CTE director, and Jan Gravley, coordinator of the afterschool program, presented an overview of the program and the efforts under way by site coordinators to make each program unique and relevant at their schools. Called Project BEST Better Educated Students Tomorrow the after-school program is in the second year of a five-year, 21 st Century Program grant. The program is operating at all grade schools and both high schools. It costs about $490,000 per year and the data already indicates overall improvement in student performance among those who regularly attend. The focus is on providing creative academic support that is different than classroom instruction. Board members were highly complimentary and asked for future updates along with more discussion about how the district can keep the program going when the grant expires. On a motion by Jeremy Hawkins, seconded by Sandra Bielski, the Board voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2009-04 opposing Initiative 1033. President Doug Smith said the programs that taxes fund are not decreasing in cost and that other elected officials he has talked with have expressed concern about the initiative s potential impact on local budgets. Superintendent Kay said he understands the public s desire to limit government spending, but that Initiative 1033 would restrict government spending without regard to need, that leaders are elected to balance fiscal requirements against the needs, and that K-12 education is not only a basic need, it is chronically underfunded. Sandra Bielski said the initiative seems like another way of creating more unfunded mandates. The Board accepted for first reading Policy 3423 Student Sports Concussion and Head Injuries, which is a new policy dealing with sports injury awareness and the required response when a student athlete sustains a possible head injury. A key component is that a student athlete must be evaluated by a medical practitioner before he or she can return to play after sustaining a possible head injury. Personnel Director Anna Shanks introduced for first reading changes to Policy 5010 Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action. The policy and procedures are updated every five years. Changes to the policy require Board approval. Changes to the plan have been reviewed by the state Superintendent of Public Instruction s Office. AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM RESOLUTION 2009-04 POLICY 3423 POLICY 5010 3
Board voted unanimously to continue the Interagency Agreement with Grays Harbor Detention Center. The agreement establishes the Aberdeen School District as the county s education provider for incarcerated juveniles at the Detention Center. The Special Services that Aberdeen provides to juveniles at the center recently received a favorable review from state monitors. Superintendent Kay said the teachers do an exceptional job of determining the needs of students on the day they arrive so that they can begin meeting their needs the next day. The next meeting of the Board is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, in the Community Room at Aberdeen High School. A work study will begin at 6 p.m. President Smith recessed the meeting at 8:08 p.m. for an executive session expected to last one hour for the purpose of evaluating the qualifications of applicants for employment. The regular meeting reconvened at 8:40 p.m. After a presentation by Personnel Director Anna Shanks, on a motion by Sandra Bielski, seconded by Jeremy Hawkins, the Board approved personnel matters, including the following certificated matters: leaves of absence for Tara Johnson, business education teacher at Aberdeen High School, effective October 6 through November 17, and Jolene Powell, sixth-grade teacher at McDermoth Elementary School, effective September 2 through November 13 and December 7 through December 18; the hiring of Katie Hirschfeld as a tutor in the 21 st Century Program at Harbor High School effective October 5 and Keelee Frost as a tutor in the 21 st Century Program at Harbor High School effective October 26; and the hiring of substitute teachers John Balmer, Gerry Kuaimoku, Danielle Marshall, Joel McMillan and Rebecca Smith-Hickey. The Board also approved classified matters, including the hiring of Kelly Hurd as a para-educator at the Hopkins Building effective October 1; approved hiring Karen Malloy as temporary secretary in the Curriculum Department effective October 12; approved hirings in the 21 st Century Program including Kristin Carter as a student Helper at Robert Gray Elementary School effective October 5, Savannah Day, Ashley Friedrich and Aneshia Stroup as student helpers at A.J. West Elementary School effective October 12, Sara Henry as a para-educator at Stevens Elementary School effective October 12, Benjamin Herry as a student helper at Robert Gray GRAYS HARBOR DETENTION CENTER NEXT MEETING EXECUTIVE SESSION PERSONNEL CERTIFICATED CLASSIFIED 4
Elementary School effective October 14; Jennifer Susan Laird as a paraeducator at McDermoth Elementary School effective October 5; Brandi Sjostrand as a para-educator at A.J. West Elementary School effective September 21, and Alexander Williams as a para-educator at McDermoth Elementary School effective October 13; approved leaves of absence for Sherrie Green, comptroller at Aberdeen High School, effective January 7 through May 5 and Mary Wentworth, food service worker at Aberdeen High School, effective October 5 through November 30; accepted the resignation of Amy McElliott as girls basketball coach at Miller Junior High School effective October 12; approved extra-curricular contracts at Aberdeen High School for Jacob Dove, assistant coach boys swimming effective November 17 through February 21 and Kelly Stewart, head track coach effective March 1 through May 29; approved extra-curricular contracts at Miller Junior High School for girls basketball coaches Tom Dickson, Mark Engelhart, Larry Fleming, Matt Harless and Paul Hendrickson effective October 26 through December 17; approved extra-curricular contracts at Miller Junior High School for Garrett Johannes, assistant wrestling coach effective October 26 through December 17 and Mike Machowek, head wrestling coach effective October 26 through December 17; approved the hiring of substitute para-educators Karin Beard, Sascha Davidson, Sara Henry, Nikki Jones, Jennie Kline, Jennifer Susan Laird and Joan Rabung, and substitute bus drivers Donald Lewin and Michael Phillips. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. ADJOURN President Doug Smith Martin W. Kay, Secretary 5